Musical instrument



Sept. 15, 1964 J. T. KUNZ 3,148,576

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed April 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IG 2 BY F Z M9 Z ATTORNEYS Sept. 15, 1964 J. T. KUNZ MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2, 1962 FIG.4

INVENTOR. d/acoa 7 Awvz Fm QWWZ F G 6 ATTO NEYS United States Patent C) 3,148,576 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Jacob T. Kunz, Collegeville, Pa, assignor to Schulmerich Electronics, Inc., Sellersville, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Apr. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 184,039 11 Claims. (Cl. 84-95) The present invention relates to audio reproducing apparatus, and particularly to a new and improved intermittent program repeating apparatus for playing music or the like.

Program repeaters commonly used in public places for advertising and other purposes which employ rotating members containing programs in the form of preset pins or slots that actuate reed vibrators and the like often become ineffective due to the breaking off of one or more of the preset pins or enlargement of the slots. Such condition often requires non-use of the apparatus until it has been repaired at a service center by replacing the rotatable program member with a new or repaired one. Additionally, in prior known devices of this sort, the interchangeability of program drums when diiferent programs were desired was not easily accomplished, often requiring the return of the device to a service center.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an audio program repeater that will avoid the above as well as other difliculties encountered with such devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a program repeater in which a predetermined time interval elapses between repetitions of the program.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a program repeater in which a defective rotatable program member can be replaced with facility and without returning the apparatus to a service center.

- Still another object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus in which replacement of a program member will be ineffective until the beginning of the program contained thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a program repeater in which a mechanical electric transducer is connected to an amplifier which in turn is connected to an electro-acoustic device, and in which the mechanical portion of the transducer is in modular form and has the capability of being replaced with facility.

In one aspect of the invention, a mechanical-electrical transducer means may be mounted within a housing in such fashion that the mechanical portion thereof may be in modular form and capable of being unitarily withdrawn from the housing independently of the electrical portion thereof.

In another aspect of the invent-ion, the mechanical portion of the transducer may include a rotatable member having thereon, a predetermined arrangement of pins or the like that actuate vibrating reeds. The rotatable member may be driven by an intermittently operable gearing arrangement adapted to make a releasable connection to the rotatable member containing the pre-arranged program.

In still another aspect of the invention, the driving means for the programmed rotatable member is constructed so that regardless of when the rotatable program member is removed and replaced, the music or program will begin exactly where it was when the rotatable memher was removed.

In still another aspect of the invention, the electrical pick-up associated with the electrical portion of the mechanical-electrical transducer may be connected to amplifying means which in turn may be connected to an electro-acoustic device.

The above, other objects and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings which are merely exemplary.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of apparatus to which the principles of the invention have been applied;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional elevational view similar to FIG. 2 with certain of the parts in positions different than that of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view looking in the direction of the arrows along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is an electrical wiring diagram of the parts forming the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 2, the principles of the invention are shown as applied to an electrical musical instrument such as a music box type of apparatus including a casing or housing 10 in which may be fixedly mounted an electrical pick-up portion 11 of a mechanical-electrical transducer 12. The pick-up portion 11 may be of any of the well-known types such as magnetic or capacitive. A platform 13 may be located within housing 10, and it may include ways 14 along which may slide a base 15 to the outer end of which may be provided a closure 16 for closing an opening 17 in housing 10 through which the base 15 may slide. A handle 18 may be fixed to closure 16 for facilitating its reciprocation and base 15 along ways 14. The base 15 may include a stop 19 for limiting the outward movements of base 15 by engaging a stop 19' in platform 13.

A mechanical portion 20 (FIGS. 2 and 5) of the mechanical-electrical transducer 12 may comprise a base element 21 having holes 22, 23 adapted to register with pins 24 and 25 on base 15. The base element 21 may have spaced brackets 26, 27 thereon for journaling a shaft 28 to which is fixed a rotatable member 29, which in the embodiment disclosed is shown as a drum having a predetermined arrangement of pins 30 thereon. The base element 21 may also support a plurality of reeds 31 arranged in cooperating position relative to the pins 30 on drum 29. The base element 21, the drum 29 and the vibratory reeds 31 comprise a modular construction capable of being unitarily applied to or removed from the slidable base 15.

With the base 15 in its outer position (FIG. 4) the modular construction including drum 29 and reeds 31 may be removed and applied to the base 15 by simply lifting or placing base element on base 15 with holes 22, 23 in register with pins 24, 25. With the base 15 in the position shown in FIG. 2, the vibratory reed construction 31 is adapted to cooperate with the electrical pick-up portion 11 of the mechanical-electrical transducer 12.

The shaft 28 that fixedly supports the drum 29 may include a one-tooth or single position clutch arrangement including a pin 32 adapted to mesh with a slot 33 in a collar 34 as the one end of shaft 28 is received within a bore 35 in the collar 34. The collar 34 may include a shank 36 fixed within a bore of a boss 37 that is reciprocatively mounted on a drive shaft 38. The shaft 38 may be journaled within an elongated bearing 39 mounted in a partition wall 40 within housing 10.

A disk 41 may be fixed to shaft 38 by a set screw 42, and it may include pins 43 and 44 having springs 45 thereon. The boss 37 may include a flange 46 having holes therein that register with pins 43 and 44. Nuts 47 threaded onto pins 43, 44 retain flange 46 on the pins 43, 44, and springs45 normally urge collar 34 to its leftmost position (FIG. 2) where slot 33 will engage pin 32 in shaft 28 when base 15 is in its innermost position. However, it is apparent that should pin 32 fall to align with slot 33, the collar 34 and boss 37 will move rightwardly (FIG. 2) against the action of springs 45 and await turning of shaft 38 until the pin comes into registry. Thus, the drum when in operative position always will be predeterminedly related to the actuating mechanism.

The shaft 38 also fixedly supports a pinion 48 that is adapted intermittently to be driven by a gear segment 49 that may be fixed to a disk 50 that is connected to the drive shaft of a synchronous motor 51 that is also mounted on wall 40. A switch 57, also mounted on wall 40, is adapted to be actuated by a pin 53 on disk 50 and arranged to open switch 57 just prior to the engagement between the teeth on segment 49 and thoseof pinion 48 as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 6, the mechanical-electrical pickup 11 is connected, to an amplifier 54 having a volume control 55. The amplifier 54 in turn is connected to an electro-acoustic device such as a loud speaker 56. With the apparatus in the condition shown in FIG. 3, switch 52 may be closed to energize synchronous motor 51. Motor 51 will start and permit switch 57 to close, providing a holding circuit through line 57A around switch 52.

The program is repeated indefinitely while switch 52 is closed, with an intermission between programs occasioned by the segment 49 rotating while not in mesh with pinion 48. When switch 52 is opened, the switch 57 will be closed if the program is only partially performed. When the program being played is completed, pin 53 on disk 50 opens switch 57, de-energizing motor 51 and stop ping the apparatus.

From the foregoing it is evident that the program set up on the drum 29 is repeated over and over with a predetermined intermission between repetitions. Furthermore, should it be desired to replace the music works comprising the drum 29 and reeds 31, it is only necessary to. pull out the base 15 by grasping handle 18 and lifting the music works off said base, whereupon another may be mounted thereon with registering means 22-25 in cooperation. Sliding base 15 into its inner position immediately conditions the apparatus for further use.

Although the various features of the invention have been shown and described in detail to fully disclose one embodiment of the invention, it will be evident that changes may be made in such details and certain features may be used without others without departing from the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electrical musical instrument, a housing; a mechanical-electrical transducer means comprising a base slidingly mounted on ways such that it may be moved from within said housing to a location outside of said housing; a modular construction including a base element removably mounted on said base, a rotatable member having a predetermined program mounted on said base element, and a vibratory reed device mounted on said base element in cooperating position relative to said rotatable program member; an electrical pick-up device stationarily mounted on said housing; amplifying means connected to said pick-up means; an electro-acoustic means connected to said amplifying means; and means for driving said mechanical portion of said transducer when it is moved to a position within said housing, the construction and arrangement of the parts being such that said modular construction can be withdrawn from said housing independently of said electrical equipment.

2. In an electrical musical instrument, a housing; a mechanical-electrical transducer means comprising a base slidingly mounted on ways such that it may be moved from within said housing to a location outside of said housing; a modular construction including a base element having interlocking registering means whereby it is removably mounted on said base, a drum rotatably mounted on said base element, a plurality of pins arranged in a predetermined pattern on the periphery of said drum, and a vibratory reed device mounted on said base element in cooperating position relative to said drum; an electrical pick-up device stationarily mounted within said housing; amplifying means connected to said pick-up means; an electro-acoustic means connected to said amplifying means; and means for driving said mechanical portion of said transducer when it is moved to a position within said housing, the construction and arrangement of the parts being such that said modular construction can be withdrawn from said housing independently of said electrical equipment.

3. In an electrical musical instrument, a housing; a mechanical-electrical transducer means comprising a base slidingly mounted on ways such that it may be moved from Within said housing to a location outside of said housing; an electrical pick-up device stationarily mounted within said housing; pins on said base adapted to register with holes in a modular construction including a base element for removably supporting said base element on said slidable base in a predetermined location, whereby said base element lies in cooperating position relative to said pick-up when said slidable base is in its location with said housing, said modular construction also including a rotatable member having a predetermined program mounted on said base element, and a vibratory reed device mounted on said base element in cooperating position relative to said rotatable program member; an electrical pick-up device stationarily mounted within said housing; amplifying means connected to said pick-up means; an electroacoustic means connected to said amplifying means; and means for driving said mechanical portion of said transducer when it is moved to a position within said housing, the construction and arrangement of the parts being such that said modular construction can be withdrawn from said housing independently of said electrical equipment and capable of being removed as a unit for replacement or repair.

4. In an electrical musical instrument, a housing; a mechanical-electrical transducer means comprising a base slidingly mounted on ways such that it may be moved from within said housing to a location outside of said housing; a modular construction including a base element removably mounted on said base, a. rotatable member having a predetermined program mounted on said base element, and a vibratory reed device mounted on said base element in cooperating position relative to said rotatable program member; an electrical pick-up device stationarily mounted within said housing; amplifying means connected to said pickup means; an electro-acoustic means connected to said amplifying means; means for rotating said rotatableprogram member comprising a synchronous motor; a gear segment rotated by said motor; and a pinion on a drive shaft for said rotatable program member and adapted to mesh with said gear segment.

5. In an electrical musical instrument, a housing; a mechanical-electrical transducer means comprising a base slidingly mounted on ways such that it may be moved from within said housing to a location outside of said housing; a modular construction including a base element removably mounted on said base, a rotatable member having a predetermined program mounted on said base element and a vibratory reed device mounted on said base element in cooperating position relative to said rotatable program member; an electrical pick-up device stationarily mounted within said housing; amplifying means connected to said pick-up means; an electroacoustic means connected to said amplifying means; means for rotating said rotatable program member comprising a synchronous motor; a gear segment rotated by said motor; a pinion on a drive shaft for said rotatable program member adapted to mesh with said gear segment; and a single position clutch arrangement between said drive shaft and said rotatable program member, the con struction and arrangement of the parts being such that said modular construction can be withdrawn from said housing independently of said electrical equipment and capable of being removed as a unit for replacement or repair.

6. In an electrical musical instrument, a housing; a mechanical-electrical transducer means comprising a base slidingly mounted on ways such that it may be moved from within said housing to a location outside of said housing; a modular construction including a base element removably mounted on said base, a rotatable member having a predetermined program mounted on said base element, and a vibratory reed device mounted on said base element in cooperating position relative to said rotatable program member; an electrical pick-up device stationarily mounted within said housing; amplifying means connected to said pick-up means; an electro-acoustic means connected to said amplifying means; means for rotating said rotatable program member comprising a synchronous motor; a gear segment rotated by said motor; a pinion on a drive shaft for said rotatable program member adapted to mesh with said gear segment; a single position clutch arrangement between said drive shaft and said rotatable program member; and resilient means associated with said clutch arrangement for facilitating the movement of said slidable base to a position completely within said housing when said clutch arrangement is not in mesh, the construction and arrangement of the parts being such that said modular construction can be Withdrawn from said housing independently of said electrical equipment and capable of being removed as a unit for replacement or repair.

7. In an electrical musical instrument, a housing; a mechanical-electrical transducer means comprising a rotatable program member; means for rotating said program member comprising a synchronous motor; a gear segment rotated by said motor; a pinion on a drive shaft for said rotatable program member and adapted to mesh with said gear segment, whereby a time delay is provided between successive operations of said rotatable program member; an electrical pick-up means; amplifying means connected to said pick-up means; an electro-acoustic means connected to said amplifying means; manuallyoperable switch means for energizing said motor; and cam-operated switch means for de-energizing said motor only at the completion of a program on said rotatable program member.

8. In an electrical musical instrument, a housing; a mechanical-electrical transducer means comprising a rotatable program member; means for rotating said program member comprising a synchronous motor; a gear segment rotated by said motor; a pinion on a drive shaft for said rotatable program member and adapted to mesh with said gear segment, whereby a time relay is provided between successive operations of said rotatable program member; a single position clutch arrangement between said drive shaft and said rotatable program member, whereby said program member and drive means are maintained in phase relation; an electrical pick-up means; amplifying means connected to said pick-up means; an electro acoustic means connected to said amplifying means; manually-operable switch means for energizing said motor; and cam-operated switch means for deenergizing said motor only at the completion of a program on said rotatable program member.

9. In an electrical musical instrument, a housing; a mechanical-electrical transducer means comprising a base slidingly mounted on ways such that it may be moved from within said housing to a location outside of said housing; a modular construction including a base element removably mounted on said base, a rotatable member having a predetermined program mounted on said base element, and a vibratory reed device mounted on said base element in cooperating position relative to said rotatable program member; an electrical pick-up device stationarily mounted within said housing; amplifying means connected to said pick-up means; an electroacoustic means connected to said amplifying means; means for rotating said rotatable program member comprising a synchronous motor; a gear segment rotated by said motor; a pinion on a drive shaft for said rotatable program member adapted to mesh with said gear segment; manually-operable switch means for energizing said motor; and cam-operated switch means for de-energizing said motor only at the completion of a program on said rotatable program member, the construction and arrangement of the parts being such that said modular construction can be withdrawn from said housing independently of said electrical equipment.

10. In an electrical musical instrument, a housing; a mechanical-electrical transducer means comprising a base slidingly mounted on Ways such that it may be moved from within said housing to a location outside of said housing; a modular construction including a base element removably mounted on said base, a rotatable member having a predetermined program mounted on said base element, and a vibratory reed device mounted on said base element in cooperating position relative to said rotatable program member; an electrical pick-up device stationarily mounted within said housing; amplifying means connected to said pick-up means; an electroacoustic means connected to said amplifying means; means for rotating said rotatable program member comprising a synchronous motor; a gear segment rotated by said motor; a pinion on a drive shaft for said rotatable program member adapted to mesh with said gear segment; a single position clutch arrangement between said drive shaft and said rotatable program member, whereby said program member and drive means are maintained in phase relation; manually-operable switch means for energizing said motor; and cam-operated switch means for de-energizing said motor only at the completion of a program on said rotatable program member, the construction and arrangement of the parts being such that said modular construction can be withdrawn from said housing independently of said electrical equipment.

11. In an electrical musical instrument, a housing; a mechanical-electrical transducer means comprising a base slidingly mounted on ways such that it may be moved from within said housing to a location outside of said housing; a modular construction including a base element removably mounted on said base, a rotatable member having a predetermined program mounted on said base element, and a vibratory reed device mounted on said base element in cooperating position relative to said rotatable progparn member; an electrical pick-up device stationarily mounted Within said housing; amplifying means connected to said pick-up means; an electroacoustic means connected to said amplifying means; means for rotating said rotatable program member comprising a synchronous motor; a gear segment rotated by said motor; a pinion on a drive shaft for said rotatable member program adapted to mesh with said gear segment; a single position clutch arrangement between said drive shaft and said rotatable program member, whereby said program member and drive means are maintained in phase relation; resilient means associated with said clutch arrangement for facilitating the movement of said slid-' able, base to a position completely within said housing:

when said clutch arrangement is not in mesh; manuallyoperable switch means for energizing said motor; and cam-operated switch means for d'eenergizing said motor only at the compl'etition of program on said rotatable program member, the construction and arrangement of the parts being such that said modular construction can electrical equipment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Nichols May 15, 

1. IN AN ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT, A HOUSING; A MECHANICAL-ELECTRICAL TRANSDUCER MEANS COMPRISING A BASE SLIDINGLY MOUNTED ON WAYS SUCH THAT IT MAY BE MOVED FROM WITHIN SAID HOUSING TO A LOCATION OUTSIDE OF SAID HOUSING; A MODULAR CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING A BASE ELEMENT REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE, A ROTATABLE MEMBER HAVING A PREDETERMINED PROGRAM MOUNTED ON SAID BASE ELEMENT, AND A VIBRATORY REED DEVICE MOUNTED ON SAID BASE ELEMENT IN COOPERATING POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID ROTATABLE PROGRAM MEMBER; AN ELECTRICAL PICK-UP DEVICE STATIONARILY MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING; AMPLIFYING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID PICK-UP MEANS; AN ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID AMPLIFYING MEANS; AND MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID MECHANICAL PORTION OF SAID TRANSDUCER WHEN IT IS MOVED TO A POSITION WITHIN SAID HOUSING THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF THE PARTS BEING SUCH THAT SAID MODULAR CONSTRUCTION CAN BE WITHDRAWN FROM SAID HOUSING INDEPENDENTLY OF SAID ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT. 